Wednesday, June 1

Comedian Candy Palmater (Trailer Park Boys, CBC and APTN) is headlining the 65th anniversary gala event for The Elizabeth Fry Society, providing help to women in, or at risk of becoming involved with, the correctional system since 1951. The event includes a cocktail party, full sit-down dinner, silent auction from 5 to 10 p.m., Sala San marco Banquet Hall, 215 Preston St. Tickets: $85. http://bit.ly/1XS4UgW

Saint Brigid’s pub, The Irish Well, plays host to some artists and a live model for the P(a)int & Draw event, where $15 gets you three hours of model time, with varying poses, while enjoying a libation, 310 St. Patrick St. Bring your own paper and implements, though easels will be set up ahead of time. Cost: $15 at the door. This is an ongoing series, for more information, join the Facebook group. facebook.com

There's a robot performing with Junkyard Symphony on the opening night of Westfest. /westfest

Sylvain Dubeau and Jessica Lavigne fish near Petrie Island in Ottawa Thursday May 19, 2016. The Cornwall couple were relaxing on their day off and decided to come to Ottawa to do some fishing. Help clean up the islands at a volunteer session on Sunday. Tony Caldwell/ostmedia Network

Earnscliffe, the British High Commissioner's resident in Ottawa, is on the Doors Open tour. /City of Ottawa

Try the Tam Tam with Dr. Lee on the opening show of Westfest. /Westfest

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Thursday, June 2

Get breakfast then lunch at City Hall today, as part of Food Aid Day, to raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank. The pancake breakfast is free (7 to 9 a.m.), with real maple syrup courtesy Stanley’s Old Maple Lane Farm, and $10 at lunch (11:30 a.m.) gets a The Works burger, drink and chips. Plus, there are country-themed events, with animals to pet, celebrity milking competition, cowboy hat music and displays about Ottawa’s rural communities, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jean Pigott Place. Donations will be accepted for the Food Bank. ottawa.ca

Acclaimed young reader author Kenneth Oppel is in town, discussing his dark fantasy novel, The Nest, answering your questions and signing copies, including your other books — even from the Silverwing series, 7 to 8 p.m., Ruth E. Dickinson branch of the Ottawa Public Library, 100 Malvern Dr. Kaleidoscope Kids will also be on hand selling copies of his books, to rounf off your collection, of course. Tickets: Free, but there is limited space so arrive early, and this is suitable for those aged nine years and up. biblioottawalibrary.ca

Heart specialists from across Canada, the U.S. and Europe will be discussing heart failure, the future of atrial fibrillation, its genetic root, relationship to stroke and be demystifying ablation, at the 4th Annual Ottawa Heart Research conference, Shaw Centre. Cardiologists, heart care teams, nurses, pharmacists, researchers and surgeons are welcome to attend the three-day conference, starting at 7:15 a.m. today. Registration: $75-$300. www.ottawaheart.ca

See the acclaimed film Sonita, about a young Afghan refugee struggling to escape a forced marriage to pursue her dreams of hip hop stardom, and World Cinema Winner at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, 6:45 p.m., ByTowne Cinema. Tickets: $12, with proceeds to the One World Arts Festival. www.oneworldfilmfestival.ca

Friday, June 3

It’s Sharing Dance Day, when thousands of all ages — anyone who can move can do it, from children to octogenerians — across the country will be performing the same routine to encourage everyone to move together for fitness and joy, started by the National Ballet School. Everyone is invited to meet at noon at the Maman statue (the big spider) outside the National Gallery of Canada, to learn a section of this year’s routine and perform it, alongside members of the School of Dance. Wear running shoes “and bring a bag of smiles.” (We posted the routine for this year, for those who want to get a head start or organize their own event.) sharingdance.ca

Westfest gets started tonight, the free, three-day family-friendly arts festival in Laroche Park, with a kidzone, artisan market with food trucks, and a full schedule of performances for all ages today, starting with a hands-on experience with Dr. Lee’s Tam Tams (4:30 p.m.) and children’s performer Derek McKinley (5:30 p.m.), to Rock the Arts puppet show (6:45 p.m.), the Giants of Junk Junkyard Symphony performance (8:15 p.m.), and Prairie fire family dance group (9 p.m.) — then ther’es an adult-only after party at The Elmdale Oyster House at 10 p.m. Fun continues all weekend, beginning with morning yoga at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and more until Luther Wright and The Wrongs play at 9:45 p.m. on Sunday evening. www.westfest.ca

The Orpheus Musical Society is taking on The Who’s rock opera Tommy, which is quite a departure for the community musical group as the show is rated Restricted, for adult audiences only due to subject matter and coarse language. The show opens tonight, closing on June 12, 7:30 p.m., Centrepointe Theatres, 101 Centrepointe Dr. lTickets: $15-$45. centrepointetheatres.com

LIVE on Elgin is celebrating its first anniversary with three days of music, staring with a Trunk album release, along with Big Moan, Randy Shenanigans and Dynamite Motel, 8 p.m., 220 Elgin St. Tickets: $8 before 9:30 p.m., $10 afterwards. www.liveonelgin.com

Seattle indie rockers The Cave Singers bring their strong sense of retro beat and atmospheric folk touches and soft guitar picking to House of Targ, with a new album released (vinyl is already sold out) in February, 10 p.m,. 1077 Bank St. Tickets: $10 in advance. spectrasonic.com

For those who want to dance, Toronto EDM duo MSTRKRFT are spinning fat beats on their return to Ritual (10 p.m., $20-$25, spectrasonic.com) and Marcus Visionary brings the jungle to Overkill (10 p.m., $10 all night at the door).

Saturday, June 4

Earnscliffe, the British High Commissioner’s resident in Ottawa, is on the Doors Open tour.City of Ottawa

Doors Open lets us walk boldly into places we’re not normally allowed, and it is one of the most popular events of the year, let alone summer. There are over 120 building participating over the event this weekend, from places of worship, to artists studios and embassies (pre-registration is required for some of these) and Experimental Farm greenhouses. Some are interesting for their architecture, and others for what they house inside (there are also special events planned at some). There’s a free shuttle bus going on a loop between 50 different locations. Admission: Free! For more details, locations and a map, visit ottawa.ca/doorsopen.

There’s yoga all day at City of Om, a brand new, community, healthy-living and green festival, also with a Free Spirit 5K run, free talks and seminars on healthy living all day, an artisanal market and live music. The classes are really open to all levels: “If you can breathe, you can do yoga,” the organizers say, with classes for the entire family and absolute beginners, indoors and outside — including some later at night to beats (there’s an after-party at Pure Kitchen on Elgin St.). Ticket-holders will get free transit rides to Lansdowne Park, but all are encouraged to walk, run or bike there. Also, this is plastic water bottle free zone, so remember to bring your own to refill on site, 8 a.m., Landowne Park. Tickets: $25 to $48.67+ in advance, includes all classes and speakers, $60 at the gate, with $2 from each ticket going to three different local charities. cityofom.com

Mud Hero is going to be messy, challenging and fun for the adventurer with over 16 obstacles over six kilometres, that organizers say are accessible to participants of all fitness levels, followed by a “mud bash” with live music and drinks, also open to spectators. There are only spots left in three out of 25 waves: at 3, 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. today, Commando Paintball, 4656 Dunning Rd. (There is more room on Sunday.) Cost: $90 includes T-shirts, race bib, photo, water stations and your “finishers” medal; free for the cheering section. mudhero.com

For those wanting more of a traditional fair, with a parade, midway rides, fireworks and a funrun (ok, not so traditional) the Annual BlackBurn FunFair is on all weekend, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. tonight, 190 Glen Park Dr., Gloucester. There’s a pancake breakfast in the community centre from 8 to 10 a.m., and the parade gets underway on Bearbrook Road at 10 a.m. www.blackburnfunfair.ca

For something more literary, Prose in the Park celebrates the written and spoken word with readings and performances in both official languages, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Parkdale Park, 360 Parkdale Ave. Participants including Andrew Pyper, the “Stephen King of Canada,” Dietrich Kalteis, Caroline Pignat and Montreal’s Heather O’Neill. There is also an ongoing book fair including small presses. www.proseinthepark.com (At the same time, the Ottawa Zine Fair is on at the Bronson Centre, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Last weekend, the horse activity in Wesley Clover Park was the hands-off dressage competition. At Horse Day today, there will be pony rides, demonstrations, a kid’s zone and more, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 401 Corkstown Rd. Admission: Free, but parking is $5. wesleycloverparks.com

Suns of Stone host the Air Guitar contest again, at House of Targ.DEREK BOEHM /
supplied

The Air Guitar Championship is back for a second year, after blowing the house off ·(figuratively) the House of Targ at its inaugural event. Hosts Suns of Stone are back, inviting everyone to don their best costume, rockingest persona and show off your mad skillz — on a song chosen by the audience, 9:30 p.m., 1077 Bank St. Tickets: $10, with proceeds to Right To Play Canada. houseoftarg.com

Monster Spectacular brings the loud to town with massive trucks performing awesome stunts, including Michael Vaters behind the wheel of the Black Stallion — joined this time by his son with Overkill Evolution, performing with the latest in truck technology. There will also be freestyle motocross, bike stunt show and racing motorcycles, 7 p.m., Canadian Tire Centre. Tickets: $22.50 to $39.50. canadiantirecentre.ca

Three-piece experimental pop band Braids from Montreal have just released four new songs, originally written while they were making their 2015 album, Deep in the Iris (which sits near the top of my list for best listens of the year). The new songs are just as beautiful and touching and, somehow, different, 10 p.m., Ritual. Tickets: $13. spectrasonic.com

Sunday, June 5

Skip brunch today for the All Things Brewed Tour, with tour and samples at a coffee roastery, kombucha tea facility, distillery and brewery — including lunch, and a Suzy Q donut, 10:30 a.m. to 4 :30 p.m. Cost: $50, includes everything (gluten-free and vegan meals available), including transport. www.brewdonkey.ca

The fifth annual Windsor Park Art Show has not just 30 artists exhibiting in a lovely, mostly-shaded setting, but also live music, a BBQ to assist the local refugee sponsorship program and is being sponsored by ABC Brewing (which probably means samples may be had), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 1 Windsor Ave.

Get up and close with Ottawa firefighters as they offer the chance to try on not just their helmets, but also hold the water hoses, among other family activities, including relay races, tug-of-war and more, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 2940 Old Montreal Rd. Cost: Free.

Dress historian Anne Bissionette takes us into the world of Marie Antoinette, through a simple white dress and the exhibit of the French queen’s portraitist, Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, 1 p.m., National Gallery. Cost: included with admission. gallery.ca

Mercury Lounge will be mixing up mimosas and margaritas at their pop-up market, filling the full three floors of their cllub with vintage and gently-used clothing and accessories, 1 to 5 p.m., 56 ByWard Market Sq. www.facebook.com

Send your event information to kendemann@postmedia.com, by 8 a.m. Monday, two weeks before it starts. Photos and audio/video files are welcome.

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